ISIS terrorists arrested 35 former intelligence officers of the Iraqi army to the West of the city of Hawija, and took them to the undisclosed direction.

ISIS (ISIL, IS, Daesh) militants captured 35 former members of Iraqi military intelligence service near the city of Hawija in the Kirkuk province of Iraq, media reported on Monday, Sputnik reported.

"ISIS militants arrested this night 35 former intelligence officers of the Iraqi army… to the West of the city of Hawija, and took them to the undisclosed direction," a law enforcement source was quoted as saying by Al Mada Press.

The officers were detained for "cooperation with the Iraqi security forces," which continue offensive toward Al-Zab area near Hawija.

Kirkuk lies some 108 miles away from Mosul, considered to be the terror group’s main stronghold in Iraq.

The Iraqi government launched on October 17 an operation to retake Mosul from the ISIS.